The Rising Hero

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter I: First Birthday... Again
Chapter 2: Lost In The Woods part 1
Chapter 3: Lost In The Woods part 2

Prologue

(First Entry)

First sentence and I don’t know what to write so I wrote this. Not a good start, but hey... it’s something. I honestly have no idea where to start and I don’t know whether to discuss the events leading up to this point. I just got this blank book today so I’m not too sure what the hell I’m gonna do in this. I guess I should start from the beginning. I’ll label this as Entry 0 since this is way before all the crazy shit went down.

I guess I should start with how I even ended up in this position. Or, if anyone is reading this, what the crazy shit it. The crazy shit is all the tests that have been run on me by the doctors from this newest, and most likely lethal, disease. I’ve been bedridden for months now with little strength to move my body so I resigned my fate to writing to pass the time.

In the past, probably three months or so, I’ve been feeling the most horrible affliction that I’ve ever had. It seems to be a combination of the flu, smallpox, and what seems to be Black Death. This startled scientist everywhere by this new development and the best minds from around the world converged to the isolated area that is my hospital room to take samples on it and, hopefully, find a cure for me.

I may be scared of needles, but I’m glad that they warn me that they are going to take some blood samples soon. To be honest, I’m scared for my life and I’m practically shivering in my sheets. I remember one night that I was asleep, I went into a panic attack because I didn’t want to die so soon. This wasn’t the first time for me since I’ve had many panic attacks because of the concept of death terrifies me. I remember one time the doctors rushed into the room without any safety equipment because of how bad the panic attack was that it almost became a seizure. That was how they found out that it wasn’t contagious.

Anyways, I should regal you or anyone else who may be reading this about where it all began.

It began three or four months ago. Don’t judge me. I can’t fuckin’ remember how long it’s been because I developed insomnia so all the hours are just one big span of time.

Anyways, enough with my ranting. I was going to school like a normal teen would. That day would be the last normal day I would have. I remember it began in my fourth-hour class, or last hour class if you wanna look at it that way when I became dizzy for no reason which actually caused me to fall on the floor.

“Whoa, are you alright Hunter?” My Geometry teacher asked as I shook tried to shake the dizziness from my head and failed in doing so.

“I... I’m fine. Just dizzy for some reason. Thanks for asking Mr. Ajuz.” I didn’t trust my eyes since the would-be still be spinning so I used my hands to guide me back to my seat.

“Are you sure. It wouldn’t be much trouble for you to go to the nurse’s office.” He helped me back to my seat and I expressed my gratitude with a ‘thanks’.

I felt someone tap me on my shoulder and I turned around to see a friend of mine. “You sure you're okay?” Michaela asked as I nodded my head.

“I guess it just from not eating lunch. I’ll be fine.” I gave her a reassuring smile before returning to look at the bord to get my notes. Luckily, I could see straight again so it wasn’t that bad.

And just like that, I went on my day without a care in the world from what happened in the classroom. I didn’t tell my parents so they wouldn’t worry about me even if it would be minor in the end. I just can’t let my mom and dad worry about me or I’ll just feel bad for making them feel like that.

The next day, I woke up at five-thirty AM in the morning like I normally do before I shook my head to get rid of the drowsiness and proceeded to crack my back, fingers, neck, and wrist out of habit. It was a part of my daily routine that I've been doing for the past ten years so I got used to it. Getting out of bed, I got my clothes, jacket, phone, earbuds, and my glasses as I normally did while walking into the bathroom to get dressed. Next, I tossed my pajamas onto my bed and proceeded to brush my teeth before walking out and staring into my room to think of anything I forgot.

I shrugged it off knowing I got everything, but I was past the time I would normally leave my family’s apartment. I felt and moved so sluggish and it was kind of annoying. I paid it no mind as I practically stumbled to the bus stop. I also paid no mind to that since it was practically pitch black and walking through the uneven grass was not easy in the slightest.

I remember practically falling asleep at the stop and on the way to school but was saved by a random person every time. Eventually, I got to my first hour of that day, biology. I didn’t mind biology, but the teacher gives us almost ten assignments every two weeks that are due every two weeks. That day, when my teacher, Ms. Johnson, was lecturing the class in the ways of the human body, I passed out.

It didn’t take long for my biology teacher to notice I was asleep at the time as I heard her slam a hand down on my table to wake me up. It caught my attention but didn’t fully wake me up.

“Excuse me, but is my lesson to boring for you Hunter?” She asked, but I didn’t answer as my body seemed to be on fire and I felt like I was burning up.

“I’m sorry, but I... just... can’t...” I passed out right then and there and, from what I heard, she tried to wake me up almost all the period until the bell rung. That did it for me as I walked out with my feet dragging behind me.

I was lucky to make it down the stairs unharmed because I nearly fell all the way down when I went down the second flight of stairs on my way to the band. That garnered some laughs and worried questions from my peers as I continued to the band room. I just felt awful, but I thought I could bear through it with pure determination.

Suffice to say, I was sent home during my second hour because I passed out again with no warning on my instrument. The band director was pissed when I woke up, but when the paramedics came to check to see if I was okay, I had a fever of a hundred and four which would describe the blatant horrible feeling that spread throughout my body. I was taken to the hospital and that was how I was taken to the room where I’ve been stuck in for months.

That’s my story until now. The tests were explained to me, but I’m a lazy bum who just doesn’t want to describe it and it just went over my head.

(Final Entry)

I just got the worst news of my life. Or limited life at this point. This damned disease is killing me swiftly and painfully. It like this disease just has a personal vendetta against me.

I’m not gonna lie, I’m terrified, scared, and all synonyms of the words. This is it. I wasn’t able to live life like I wanted to and it pisses me off that my life was cut short. My hands are shaking and each word is looking more and more difficult to read. My eyes blurred with tears from the pain, but I haven’t given up and I’m continuing to fight it with all I got. My family has been notified, but they won’t make it in time. My breathing is now becoming more heavy and ragged from the resent cry of pain. I can no longer speak, from the screams of pain that pushed through my vocal cords.

So this is it. My final words are going to be written and not spoken. Do I regret anything? No, not really. I’m a fern believer of ‘if things happen, then I’ll go with it’, but this was something I couldn’t except. I put up a good fight and I asked for this book to put my final thoughts in.

I guess this is it. For everyone who stayed with me to the end, thank you. I wish you all good luck. Goodbye, my family, my friends, and my life. And thank you again for this wonderful life I was given.

Goodbye.

I placed the book down after writing in it with all my emotions spilled onto the paper. This was it. I’m gonna die. When you first think of it, you think it’s so far away, yet it is always coming closer.

I chuckled as a memory popped up as I thought of what I said as a child. I thought I was never gonna die. But I guess I’ll never die in the hearts of friends, family, and memory.

I felt my eyelids grow heavy as I knew what was next. I gulped and did something I thought I would never do.

I smiled.

“Are you ready?” A doctor asked. I couldn’t help but give him a toothy smile.

“I have nothing to be scared of. It will all end soon. Just how I wanted to go out.” I responded happily. “I won’t give this disease the satisfaction of killing me.”

“Your family didn’t want to see you die and asked you not to go out the way you want to go.” I stopped and thought about it.

“I guess that is selfish of me.”

“I’ll send them in.”

I waited a few seconds as my older brother, dad, sisters, and mother walked in. They were followed by my younger brother, my step-parents, my grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles.

“This is it,” I said my face once again neutral.

“We just wanted to say... goodbye.” Mom said.

“Thanks, but I bet that might be the famous last words I’ll hear.” I coughed loudly as my voice grew deeper. “Fuck,” I grunted.

“Famous last words.” My brother said. I couldn’t help but laugh

“Damn right it is.” My laughter died down as I heard them call for me fruitlessly. “Bye.” Then I felt and heard nothing. The air in my lungs was slowly exhaled from my body and my eyes closed for the last time.

My last thought was, ‘So this was it. Guess it’s time to go into the deepest sleep yet... and not wake up.’

The thing was that even after I knew I died, I could still feel my body twitch every so often from the monotony of lying still for so long. Was this what death was like.

“Hey.”

‘I guess there’s nothing I can do about this since it would just be me and my thoughts.’

“Can you hear me?”

‘How long will it be until I go mad. I would not like to live the rest of eternity in an insane mess.’

“I know you can hear me. If you don’t acknowledge me, I will slap you.”

‘This is what I expected, but I never thought I would ever get to this point for a very long time.’

A sudden and very painful impact on my right cheek made my eyes finally opened to a clear blue sky that I knew I couldn’t imagine. It was just too beautiful and breathtaking with the involvement of no sun to glare at. Damn, why couldn’t the day be like this?

“Can you hear me now?” An old gruff voice said which caused me to look at the man in question.

“W-Who are you?” I asked in fear as I slowly backed away from the man.

“I think you know who.” I thought it over for a few seconds before it finally clicked. I definitely died from what I could tell. The pain was too intense for any realistic dream, so that would mean that he was...

“God.” I backed away more in fear.

“No need to worry my boy, I’m here to help you.” He held up a hand as his smile slowly calmed me.

“Help? how?” I was slowly getting suspicious which confused him.

“Simple, my boy. All I have to do is contact a fellow god from another dimension to ask for help.” He summoned a chair to sit in which amazed me for a few seconds.

“Help? With what?” I glared at him like that help was him shattering my soul.

“To give you a second chance of course.” I grew confused which was evident because I was completely speechless. He elaborated more after contacting the other god by summoning a phone and calling them. “It was my fault you died so soon. I was making a disease that would help regulate the human population that would slowly evolve the fungi known as Ophiocordyceps unilateralis. It would’ve taken effect in 2060. Unfortunately, I was reckless and accidental released it prematurely and it killed you.”

“What was the fungus supposed to do?” I glared at him for a small while.

“Remember the game ‘The Last of Us’?” I nodded and he continued. “It was supposed to do that.” I gulped as I knew that it would have come forty years after my graduation. He suddenly perked up and smiled at me. “Well, this is goodbye. Hopefully, when you die, it won’t be from a mistake like what happened this time.”

“W-wait!” I fell through the ground and into a black void with nothing in any direction. Luckily, there was at least a floor.

I waited for anyone to show up, but no one did which did heart me quite a bit. I lost track of time and eventually just began to count the seconds, literally,

“I hope I haven’t offended you with my lateness.” A woman said in a soft yet young tone that kept me from panicking when she suddenly appeared. “Your god contacted me about your situation so I agreed to help you.”

“Why? I’m just some person with little skills.” I looked at her and began to examine her. “Seriously, I’m an introvert and a nobody; why would you want someone like me.”

She had crimson hair with soft caring eyes and casual clothing which surprised me. “He made a mistake and I get a reason to taunt him. You get life and something more, while I get to taunt the Tartarus out of him.” She smiled as she began to ask me the one question I would’ve never expected. “What power do you want?”

“Wait, What?” I was astronomically confused that I’m pretty sure other versions of myself were confused.

“I know you heard me. What kind of power do you want?” I was astonished that someone would trust me to make this decision, but that didn’t stop me from thinking long and hard about that since they had their pros and cons when it comes to this kind of stuff.

I could get the Blacklight Virus and be Alex Mercer, but then I would be classified as a danger and would die practically immediately. There would be a problem that the doctor's opponents would reveal that I was a living virus. I would be fucked six ways from Sunday.

There are Dark Souls, but I doubt that people would take kindly to something that can come back from the dead. Again, that would screw me since I’m not sure if I’ll have a heartbeat since I’ll be dead, or in this case: undead. Again, that would screw me because everyone would think I know necromancy and I’ll be imprisoned for that. Which met that power was off the table.

The Elder Scrolls games would screw me over most of the time and I would be hurting myself more than anything else. I would mostly knock myself back by using the shouts because I don’t have the support. I would most likely burn myself alive with fire magic, I would somehow freeze myself in place or give myself frostbite and that would suck, and finally, I would kill my self by using lightning in water. The ward spell would be useful, but I wouldn’t know if anyone else would use magic.

There’s PREY, but I don’t want to end up like the Changelings because I would most likely receive ridicule in that dimension for shapeshifting. That and I’m horrible at stealth and would end up being found in the first fifteen minutes of receiving it.

Dishonored... no, just no. I do not want to be accused of dark magic. That and rat swarm would make others think I was a monster for that.

Then it popped into my head for what power which would help me more and anything. It had a key trigger that would allow it to begin and it was magic that I would love to use.

“Noctis’ power from Final Fantasy XV.” She smiles like she knew something I didn’t.

“Perfect! My world is like that game!” She paused for a moment before adding, “...Well, almost.” She closes her eyes and seemed to concentrate hard while her hands glowed.

“Wait!” Her eyes opened and she looked at me in confusion. “What’s your name? Mine is Hunter, Hunter Herrero.” She smiled and gave me a soft smile.

“Faust.” My eyes widened at her response and to my absolute luck.

With that, I felt my body float before I was forced down before my body began to shrink while I felt something being infused into me before I lost sight and consciousness. Then I felt unimaginable pain that made me scream. However I now knew I was much, MUCH younger, but I didn’t care. That hurt so much!

Faust, under the cover of night, carried a young infant who was sleeping soundly in a basket that had a small box in it with a note and the previous teen’s new name. She knew there was a reason her old friend asked her to resurrect him, but she didn’t know why. He normally didn’t own up to his mistakes and would constantly chalk it up to human intervention. Hitler immediately came to mind as she remembered his horrified expression during the Holocaust.

It wasn’t the most ideal setting she had for something like this, but it would cover her entrance and exit easily. It was raining... hard. The rain pelted the woman without remorse and matted her hair to her back.

“We’ll see each other in a few years.” Faust smiled widely as her seemingly new friend began to cry. She was somewhat glad he began to cry from the painful process of de-aging. “Bye Nocturnal Shadow.” Faust knocked on the door before disappearing in a bright flash just as the door opened.

A man in his mid-twenties stepped out the door in green pajamas that matched his hair. His eyes were a dark purple that searched the general area for whoever knocked at his door. He heard the crying infant at his feet which he immediately took in.

“Who was it?” A woman around the same age at the man walked in with baggy yellow pajamas. She had blue hair and lime green eyes.

“No one. Well... except for him.” The man pointed to the infant that was still inside the basket.

The woman looked at the child with a glint in her eyes. She lifted the infant with the slowest movement she could do with oust seeming like a snail.

“What’s his name?” The woman asked with barely contained joy from the child.

“Nocturnal Shadow.” The man responded looking at the woman with a sly smirk. “A fitting name; don’t you think Nocturnal Solstice.” They chuckled at the coincidence of the name the infant had.

“I have to agree on Green Thumb.” The woman looked at the child who just randomly appeared on their doorstep.

“Do... do you think we can adopt him?” Green asked with a worried expression. “Are we ready for it?”

“I will be leaving we are. We should at least try and if not, we’ll just have to try harder.” Nocturnal nuzzled the infant with clear happiness on her face.

“Hold on. There’s something else in there.” He looked at the note on the box and figured it to be more important than the box. “This is a keepsake from his father. Please give it to him when he turns one. I hope you can give him what I can not.” He read aloud.

“I... I guess we’re doing this.”

“We are...” He paused for a moment before looking to his wife. “In the morning.”

“In the morning.”

Outside the building protected by a spell was Faust who was soaked in rain with a smile on her face. That quickly changed to a thoughtful one. “Did I remember to erase his memories?” She catches her chin before her eyes widened. “Eh, not much I can do now.” She went back to where she was before turning the unfortunate teen into that infant. She could feel the anger coming from the infant which she just chuckled nervously. “I’ll apologize later.”

Chapter I: First Birthday... Again

I lied in my bed with a content smile even through I was completely awake. I just didn’t want to get up because of the bed. It was so soft! I mean... that bed feels like a cloud and I know what one feels like. It was a cloud bed after all.

“Noctis! Time to get up!” My mom yelled causing me to do the action while I held a smile. I was happy that my level of awareness was average so I didn’t seem to suspespous.

“I’m up!” I yelled back without a care. Ya, I knew I was adopted, but it didn’t matter to me as I had a nice, loving family with my second life. I still miss my old family, but what can I do. I’ll enjoy myself with this new amazing world that was oh so familiar to me, but also unfamiliar.

I learned that I wasn’t born in the time line of MLP like I hoped, but instead actually a thousand years into the future after the effects of Tirek. Unfortunately, all the elements gave their lives to stop the rampaging daemon which awarded them statues and nearly unrobbible graves. They were scattered around the world along with their successors whom have done a great service.

“Noctis! Hurry up or you’ll miss your birthday!” I paused because I forgot today was my first birthday and mom and dad have been hinting at something big they were going to give me. I wasn’t to excited because I could never really except much of anything without feeling bad in the process. It was my one pet peeve that constantly mocked me in my old life. It was one of the main reasons I wasn’t spoiled like most millennials.

I got dressed in black clothing while practically avoiding the white clothing. I personally liked black, but it was the same with white. However, if I had a choice to wear either black or white; I would were black. It was just a preference of mine that I couldn’t shake. It’s like when you tap your foot or chew the edge of a pen.

I ran out my room with complete excitement to meet cousins, aunts and uncles from this family. It would be the first time I met them and they actually called to ask what I wanted for my birthday. I couldn’t care less what I got if I was with family which would make me feel happy. I asked for nothing, but to meet them.

I was bringing a book though just incase I needed it. No matter who I am or where I live, I will always be an introvert. Even if I am a hell of a lot more of an antisocial person than anything else. I will beaver change because I’m me and if no one likes it, then we don’t have to talk to one another.

I grabbed one of the thickest book on the table that had the title of ‘Tirek’s Return’. It was a horror novel about a fictional team of elements who were going against Tirek and his forces that would attack the mind before devouring the unlucky victim. Most adults would look at me in horror before realizing that I was completely fine with the over the top gore and suicidal messages in the book. I was completely fine with it because this worlds version of over the top gore was practically a broken bone or a profusely bleeding wound. I was more disappointed because the devouring part was like the main characters being eaten whole. It was annoying, but the atmosphere was perfect. Unfortunately, I don’t get scared easily.

“You ready son?” Dad asked as he gave me a smile which was infectious. I smiled back at him and nodded my conformation. “Then lets go!” We walked out with me hot on their tails as the hos summer air felt so familiar along with the nice breeze that passed by us.

The nice summer air that reminded me or Georgia before I moved. It felt so nice and I couldn’t help but feel so... at peace. Each step felt like a long stride that I enjoyed wholeheartedly like I was in a meadow. I sighed happily with a bright smile that I would’ve never showen in my original world.

“Enjoying yourself.” Mom asked causing me to beam at her with my smile.

“Absolutely!” I may have used my tenth grade vocabulary from time to time when speaking. It got me into trouble from time to time, but I can’t help what comes out of my mouth from time to time. The good thing was that I read... a lot. It was how almost everybody who were friends with my parents knew about my extended vocabulary. “I mean, come on! I’m gonna meet everyone else in the family! I just can’t help but be happy!” I smiled even wider with no regards which I was happy about. I use to be so insecure about... everything! Even my writing, but as long as I write what I want to write; I’m happy. However, I was more or less surprised that I wasn’t as timid as I was on earth and how I seemed to have child like enthusiasm along with my depression just vanishing. Seriously, I’m completely baffled by this new turn of events.

“Good. Today is your big day and we’re almost to the park. I just wanted you to know.” Dad said as I nodded before walking a little faster to walk side by side of the two adults with my own childlike smile. I was just happy about today that nothing could bring me down.

Luckily, the park was about a twenty minutes walk that I loved. That was mostly because I would pace around. Each step felt lack a huge relief and kept my mind going without having me lose interest in something. I was just so use to walking so far that I hardly even notice that I am walking until I have a change in scenery that is so major that a blind man can notice it. It was a really bad habit that I doubt I will ever get over any time soon.

Now that my internal monologue was complete, we made it to the park where there were an abundance of Flyers and Terrans. Surprisingly, I saw no Mages which actually caused me to have a brief pause in my step before I regain it with a few quick steps. I’m not kidding. There wasn’t a single Mage at all and normally they are hired for parties and other stuff like that. I international shrugged before continuing on with my parents until we were noticed by the rest who were surprised. I was a Terran, from what the magic and technology says. I’m a fairly weak one, but a Terran none the less.

“Who are you young one?” A woman asked. I didn’t bother taking in what they were wearing because I knew it would change almost every day.

“Nocturnal Shadow.” I introduced myself with a smile before holding out my had to shake their’s. “Nice to meet you.” They took my hand and shook it.

“Nice to meet you Nocturnal. I’m Gleaming Jewel. I work in the Jem mine near Los Pegasus.” She stepped aside to show a small child that seemed to be too timid to introduce herself. The Chile’s has purple hair and pink eyes that showed fear and anxiety. I knew them all to well. “This is Steel Sword. She’s around the same age as you.” I held out my hand with a friendly smile. She huddled closer to her mother.

“He’s scary.” I tilted my head, but realized that I may have been too forceful.

“It’s alright, I’m not gonna hurt you. Don’t want any false allegations against me.” I said trying to reassure her which actually garnered a few looks from many of the adults. “What?” I asked with complete confusion.

“Do you know the definition of that word?” A man asked who looked somewhat like dad. A twin perhaps, but I can be too sure.

“A claimof assertion that someone done something illegal or wrong.” I didn’t hide the fact I’m a little more intelligent than most my age. I needed to be smart because my magic doesn’t necessarily work properly.

“Smart kid.” He smiled at me which I returned with an almost sorrow smile.

“I’m physically weaker than any other Terran and even most Mages so I have to make up for it somehow.” I chuckled knowing that my sorrowful look went unnoticed by the rest which felt great to not have to bare those apologetic eyes. I don’t like it when others feel sympathy for me so I do all I can to avoid it.

“I guess that’s one way to make up for ones short comings.” I nodded before walking to a shady tree with my book to read a few more chapters. Although it wasn’t scary, it was a damn good story that I couldn’t put down.

I read for what seemed like hours before I felt something sit beside me with almost stiff movements. I didn’t look up as I turned the page with seemingly little regard to who was beside me. I didn’t want to be rude, but I just couldn’t initiate a conversation with someone in fear of saying the wrong thing.

“U-Umm... e-excu-use m-m-me.” I look to my side to see Steel Sword looking at me in fear while looking like she would bolt at the slightest of sudden movements. “N-n-Nocturnal, Right?”

“That is me, yes. However, if you feel uncomfortable saying my full name, call me Noctis. It a nickname I came up for my self.” She nodded and exhaled in preparation to asked or say something.

“What are you reading.” She released another breath which showed me she gathered all her courage to speak that simple question.

“Tirek’s Return.” I responded quietly so no one else would hear. “It’s supposed to be scary, but it isn’t scary to me.” She looked more comfortable being around me which was great. I didn’t want to scare her away and seem like the bad guy.

We sat there, underneath the shade doing nothing or occasionally talking to one another as many boys and girls ran by and asked up to play. I would immediately get destroyed in more ways than one with my failing magic while Steel was just content to sitting where she was even after I said it was okay for her to leave.

There wasn’t much for me to do after finishing the book so I went to go introduce myself to the rest in order to make an effort to make friends with family. I guess picking the teen wasn’t the best decision I came up with as many of them whispered for me to stand clear of him. He had black hair like me with orange eyes which immediately attracted me because he the natural colors I like. Or as natural in a land of magic and a geocentric planet that needed two princesses to move the two celestial bodies.

“Hello.” I began as he turned to me with a glare which completely unfazed me.

“Ya, what’s up.” He didn’t sound to happy. I had to think quick of a way to stop that glare. It didn’t scare me, but it would get me somewhere with the emo teen.

“If I may ask, who are you?” I didn’t dare take my eyes off of him in fear of being kicked across the field.

“Blue Clover.” He continued to look uninterested, but he was showing signs of cracking. He seemed around twelve or thirteen which I had a huge advantage over in intellect. “What’s your name?” He held out a hand for me to shake, but I hesitated for a small moment.

“Nocturnal Shadow.” I responded while taking his hand and giving it a shake that did absolutely nothing. “Your a Terran, aren’t you?” He nodded for the quick race identification.

“Your smart, Nocturnal.” He smiled which I returned before taking my hand back and putting my hands in my pockets.

“If you want, call me Noctis. It quicker than Nocturnal.” He nodded before I walked off to try and meet the rest.

It didn’t take long since I found a few of them coming to greet me who were some what amazed by my show of smarts. Eventually, I found my way back to Steel Sword who was watching a few armored people walk through the park. She seemed happy and amazed as the people walked by and seemed to be heading towards the train station.

“Who are they?” I asked which caused her to jump with a small frightened expression.

“Oh, it’s just you.” She went back to admiring the armored humans with amazement in her eyes. “Those are the students of CSIA or Celestia’s School fo Inspiring Adventurers. I hope to be like them and form a party with my friends, but I doubt I’ll get in.”

“You can get in. You just have to practice.” She turned to me with slight anger as I stared into her

“It’s more than that.” She calmed down and went back to looking at them with longing. You have to stand out from the others in order to get in. Every four years, there is a tournament to see who will enter the school. If you win, you get in and there’s no age requirements.” She sighed sadly and looked to the ground disheartened which hurt me. “The youngest person to ever get in was twenty and they just barely made it.” I looked to the ground and back up at her with the most determined expression I ever had in either of my lives.

“Steel Sword. Look at me.” She did and saw my determined expression that held resolve, courage, and determination. “I will train as hard as I can to get in. I will get accepted into the school. And if you want to join me then train... train as hard as you can to get into the school and we’ll do the next tournament when it comes.”

“I-it’s in two years.” She seemed apprehensive about it so I had to encourage her to continue.

“No one got anywhere without getting outside their comfort zone and will not get any where without putting in the effort to attempt to do it.” I paused and remembered a quote that actually stuck with me through the years. “It’s better to try and fail, than never try at all.” She looked at me with confusion. “I would rather fail knowing that I tried than not even attempt to make the first step to my goal. Will you strive for your goal, or will you stay where you are and admire those you want to be from a distance for life.”

“I... I want to reach my goals!” She gave one of the brightest smiles I have ever seen before she gave me a bone crushing huge. I tried to wrap my arms around her to return the hug, but didn’t make it due to her newly discovered wings. She may have had it all this time and I just noticed it. I’m not the most observant when it comes to this stuff.

“Good. Now let’s enjoy the party before we do anything else.” She clung to me which was somewhat annoying. “Umm... you can let go now.” She let go with an adorable ‘Eep’. I didn’t say or do anything as we went back to the main party with everyone else waiting for the infamous birthday song to be sung.

Time has passed since the cake has been cut and that was about three seconds ago. I was happily because it was my favorite flavor, chocolate. I couldn’t help myself from practically hopping in place to the point where no one would notice. What make this cake better was that it had chocolate icing which instantly made it the best food in the entire world of Equus. However, I didn’t want to be rude so I asked them to serve everyone else before me because I had much more self control of myself than many would give me credit for. So I waited for the chocolaty goodness like a good boy.

“Here you go.” Dad said while handing me a plate with a cake on it before cutting himself a slice. I took a good chunk from it while resisting the urge to devour it in in just a few bites.

When I did, I smiled blissfully as the milk chocolate flavor was dancing in my mouth which tasted amazing to me. I savored each bit like it was the last while chewing as slow as humanly possible to make it last longer. I didn’t get another slice so others could have another bite of that chocolaty goodness that is cake.

I sat down with very few people out of pure habit of my old life as many of the guests gathered around me like wolves to pray. I was getting sort of nervous, but avoided showing any signs of the mentioned emotion.

Mom walked up to me and presented a polished wood case while saying, “We know you didn’t want much, but to see your family for the first time. Your a good kid and do as your told as well as stay out of trouble when outside.” Because I know the fury of an angry adult from my previous life. “But we want to give you this. It was with you when we...”

“Found me, perhaps?” I finished in a guessing tone.

“H-how did you guess?” She recoiled in surprise, but I tentatively took the case with the up most care.

“I’ve known for a while now. That’s how genetics works and I don’t look anything like you two. That and I remember the night you found me.” They blushed out of embarrassment because I think they just found out all the hints I made to get them to figure out that I know I was adopted. “It doesn’t mean you aren’t my parents regardless. I’ll still be your son. Either blood related or not, but I’ll still be you son.”

I was hugging by the two emotional adults with enough for to knock the wind out of me. I hugged them back as the rest around us seemed to be even more surprised by this new revelation that we practically dropped on them.

“W-well,” dad began as he gave me a toothy smile, “open it up. We were asked not to and I’m curious about what’s inside.”

I opened it up and what was inside shocked me to my very core. It was a knife that seemed to be practically brand new despite the age of the case and the dusty cotton within. With the up most care, I removed the knife from the case without trying to seem to sudden in fear of cutting myself... again.

I gripped the sheath with the strongest grip I could muster and slowly pulled the blade out of it. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it looked nice enough to be proud of since the sheath and handle look like it was made from dragon scales. It felt like leather; However, I could tell it could take one hell of a beating and it wouldn’t break which surprise me since it feels so soft. I moved away from the group and gave it a few swings with an accidental loose grip, yet it didn’t go flying. I sheathed it once more before giving my parents one of my biggest smiles I could ever give.

“Thank you.” I said as I looked at the knife with a smile. “You gave me something that can help me further my goal.”

“And that would be?” Dad asked with a questioning look as I smiled at him with the up most gratitude.

“To be the youngest to join CSIA.” His eyes widened as I looked back at the knife with a small bit of apprehension creeping up my spine. Was I really ready for this? Only time could tell.

I looked back at the case the knife came in and opened to to put the blade back in its protective case. I hesitated for a moment once I saw a folded note which had my name on it. My actual name.

Dear Hunter,

I can see you have aquatinted yourself with your new family. I know I can’t replace the original, but at least you still have the memory.

Anyways, I want to get straight to the point. Meet me out in the forest behind your house. All you have to do is go straight and you’ll find the clearing.

sincerely,
Faust

I was shocked for a little while before I realized that Faust was here. Actually here... in this world... as who knows what. This is the first time I’m gonna meet a god outside of death.

What would see what with me or even want to meet me after sending me here instead of seeing Celestia or Luna. I mean, why me instead of someone more... important like world leaders or the people that raise the fucking sun and moon. It just didn’t make sense to me.

Maybe I was overthinking this and being paranoid after the last god accidentally killed me. I’m just hoping that she won’t give me heart breaking news like I was gonna die again or something like that. Then again, she could just want to see me and see how I was adjusting to life in this amazing new world.

All of those thoughts happened in the span of a millisecond as I put the blade in the case along with the note. I was just overthinking things and I needed to stop or I would regain my endless anxiety that was ever present in my old life. I’d rather be cursed than have that damned anxiety back because it severely hindered my ability to do most of anything.

“I guess it’s time to leave.” Mom said as she held out her hands to me as I grabbed the case before grabbing her hand and was lead away from the crowd of family who I was more than happy to meet.

“W-wait!” I turned back to the group and say Steel running towards me with a smile before she gave me a hug. “Thank you for reassuring me about my goals. I’ll ask my parents if I can write to you so we can still talk to one another.” I smiled and nodded at her suggestion since neither of us have a phone yet.

“Sure, I would like to at least talk to some of my family that isn’t over the phone. Even if it’s a little outdated like a letter.” I gave her a smile before me and my parents went home to sleep off the days events. We were tired and it definitely showed in the way we acted.

Getting home was a chore for the three of us; especially after the hours of fun we had all day with the family. I would wobble every so often and sometimes trip on nothing because I made my steps too small while moving my body forward. It was an... interesting ten minutes as we walked from the park to our house. It was completely quiet for what seemed like hours and we didn’t say a word until the next day in favor of sleep.

Author's Note

Not as long as When Worlds Collide, but not bad... right? Constructive criticism is welcome and if you have suggestions for future chapters, that would be greatly appreciated.

See all y’all next chapter.

Chapter 2: Lost In The Woods part 1

I woke up in my amazing bed that I was still trying to find something softer than the previous comparison so it would make sense. I stayed lying in my bed with a content smile with the only thoughts going through my mind were the bed, the knife, and the note from Faust... HOLY CRAP!!! I FORGOT ABOUT FAUST!!!

With that thought in mind, I practically jumped out of bed with expert level speed before getting dressed in the same clothing I had on yesterday. They looked the same, but were in the color of white. I also grabbed the knife from its case and slide it through the back loops of my pants. I thought of my mental checklist of what I needed to traverse the dense forest that lied behind my home.

Satisfied with all I had, I rushed out the back door with enough speed to practically run through trees and tear them down. I didn’t bother to even take in the scenery as I bolted through the woods and literally ran through the trees. I don’t know how I did it without feeling pain, but I did.

Eventually, I reached the clearing with my lung burning from the lack of oxygen entering them as I huffed to attempt to put air into my lungs. My hands were on my knees and I was bent over to support myself before I fell to my knees.

“So you finally made it.” A youngish voice announced before a girl my age leaped from the trees ahead to a few meters in front of me. “Umm... do you need water?” She tilted her head with a confused and worried expression mixed together.

“Please.” I huffed before finally looking to the sky to give the air a straight shot to my lungs.

She presented me with a bottle of water which I drank greedily. I didn’t spare a single drop as the cold water was quickly gulped down be me as my breathing just got a little better and were on the road to being normal.

“Thanks.” I stood up with my breathing being deep and filling as my lung recovered.

“No problem.” She said while I examined her for the first time. She had red hair and green... eyes.

“Faust!” I was completely shocked that I had Faust in front of me again. “What do you want? Wait... AM I GONNA DIE AGAIN!!!” I was on the verge of a panic attack at this point because death is painful.

“No, but I may have made a tiny little mistake.” She looked sheepish while looking at me which didn’t help my growing fear. “I may have made you a Balancer. I infused your body with too much magic along with the magic of a Daemon.” My eyes widened for a moment at the news I was just given.

“First, you in fused my body with magic. My dead body. The one back on earth.” I was confused because my old body should be six feet under by now.

“When you were sent to your world’s god, he had to take your body with it and cure it so you wouldn’t die again. Your body is the exact same body you had for sixteen years now.” I nodded before I remembered the last thing she said.

“Lastly, you infused my body with your magic and the magic of a Daemon. One of the most powerful, evil creatures in the entire world of Equus.” Even I wouldn’t have done something so reckless like that no matter what situation.

“If I didn’t your body would tear itself apart with the positive and negative emotions. Your literally divided in you emotions.” I understood why now. The world would have not known what to do with me.

“I blame the depression.” I said with a roll of my eyes. “But why my actual body inside of a new one?”

“...” She didn’t answer before face palming knowing that she could have done that from the beginning. “That would have prevented a panic.” She sighed heavily before walking away. “By the way, did you get my gift?” I nodded and pulled out the knife with a single motion.

She smiled before leading me deeper into the woods that seemed to grow darker and darker as we continued on. I couldn’t help but jump at the slightest of noise as we continued one through the creepy forest that seemed to go on forever. Although I felt overwhelming dread and fear, it was a nice walk that I throughly enjoying.

“Why am I following you?” I said with apprehension entering my voice.

We stopped before she finally turned around with a smile one her face which actually brightened up the forest a little. It didn’t stop her eyes from expressing fear from our surroundings as I instantly went on guard and prepared to grab Faust and run at the slightest growl or sight of a monster. She seemed tense and looked prepared to run with sat same smile on her face. Here eyes seemed to go above me and focus on something behind me which ultimately made terror grow within me.

“Follow me and run when I tell you.” She said while stayed still while preparing to run for her life. I was completely an utterly confused by her sudden change in demeanor. “Now!” At that word, we rushed further into the forest while the stomping of something followed behind me.

I spared a glance at what was behind me before redoubling my efforts to escape from the Daemon that was following behind me. We continued running without gaining any ground, but we were steadily loosing more ground with our fatigue getting the best of us.

I looked back at the Daemon that looked like a golem type daemon with a single edge scimitar in its right hand. Its head was small to the point of it being unnoticeable while its body was the complete opposite as it was ten times my size. Its speed was staggering since golems normally lumber towards their victims, but this one was in a full sprint and showed no signs of stopping.

Seeing no other way and being the only one of us with a weapon, I immediately ran towards the golem at a full sprint. It tried to land an attack on me via a horizontal slash which I slid under before running towards it. Sliding again, I attacked the femoral arteries on the thighs and attacking one of the Achilles’ tendon.

It didn’t last long as I was swatted away with extreme force which sent me flying. I didn’t stop until I was sent through a tree and collided with another one. I let out a cry of pain as a few sounds of bones snapping echoed through my ears. I landed on the ground where I was met with the golem making a mad dash to me.

I tried to roll out the way, but its massive hand punched me deeper into the ground before picking me up and throwing me in the direction of where Faust ran. Many, many trees were torn down by the use of my body being thrown through the dense forest. I landed hard as my body created a deep ditch in the line of my extremely rough landing. Tears leaked from my eyes from the indescribable pain I was feeling throughout my entire body as the golem lumbered towards me.

I saw that my efforts to hold it off were useless so I did my best to run away. I tried to put pressure on my arms which just buckled underneath the pain of the throw. I stayed there with all the pain in the world focused on me as this behemoth of a golem ominously lumbered towards me. I felt its footsteps through the ground as it shook even more violently with each step along with a loud boom accompanying the steps. I closed my eyes and waited for the inevitable.

Eventually, the footsteps stopped its booming and the vibrations ended. A minute passed and nothing happened which I took for a sign that it ether left of is just waiting for me to open my eyes. I got my answer as the sound of metal cutting through stone came from right beside me. I opened my eyes to see my soon to be killer as it pulled its sword from the ground.

It lifted its massive sword into the said slowly while I raised my hand in a fruitless attempt to stop the sword. This was it... I’m gonna die again. Its sword came down at blinding speeds as I screamed in fear and closed my eye as me death came, but nothing happened except for the sound of metal hitting metal.

I opened my eyes to see what happened which resulted in me seeing a large dome in front of me made of a clear blue glasslike substance. I lifted my other hand and found the knife still firmly in my grip which I smiled at. I half the shield while preparing to try something daring which wound seem crazy.

I dispelled the shield and threw the knife at it... but nothing happened. I was disappointed and saddened that it didn’t work, but fear took control as it came in for another killing blow which would be unavoidable for me at this point. I closed my eyes again, but only for my body to feel like it was being pulled before I felt a familiar object in my hand. I opened my eyes which garnered amazement to flood my system as it worked.

I gritted my teeth as I pulled out the knife as many broken bones made themselves known from the pull and attacked a few times on it torso as I fell. It groaned loudly as it dropped to one knee which I used to my advantage and stabbed the blade into its stomach area and pulled as hard as I could. I was breathing heavy as the effort to put into doing that attack was substantial compared to the warp-strike.

I had the bright idea of looking back at my kill before all that amazement and happiness exited my system as it got up and its wounds healed. I decided not to stay as its wounds healed, so I limped away because of an open fracture from my left leg that hurt like hell.

I limped as fast as I could, but it was fast enough as it quickly made it towards me. I turned and tried to make that same shield which worked, but I used both hands which I thought would make it stronger. It did, but due to my injured state, it wasn’t strong enough as its sword made contract with my shield and it pushed down on the back of the blade.

Shards of the shield cracked and broke off which put an enormous strain on my body. More and more shards of the shield cracked off and disappeared from sight. With the strain from my body and the multiple broken bones, I screamed loudly as I put even more strain on my body to make a stronger shield. I could feel every individual cracked, fractured, and broken bone as the strain pushed against me. It didn’t matter as the shield continued the crack and break until it gave out and the resulting explosion from the broken shield send me flying through the trees once more.

“Why!” I yelled after being sent through even more trees that broke my bones even further. The pain was excruciating for me as each slight movement was like my bones braking more and more which caused me to stay still, but I knew that I would forget and try to move again.

I couldn’t move. I struggled to breath. I coughed up blood. I was gonna die again, but this time for sure as the golem’s pounding footsteps grew ever closer. Blood dripped from my mound and onto the hash stone ground of the cave... wait... cave?

I looked around and saw the entrance had a green glow surrounding it as the golem grew ever closer until it could be seen. I was about to scream in terror until a hand covered my mouth and someone shushed me. The mystery person and I watched as its upper body moved until it faced the left and it doing the same to face the right. It grunted in frustration before walking away, much to my surprise. I got a good look st it before it left and the three scars on its torso will be a permanent reminder of our fight. The person uncovered my mouth and wiped my blood from their hand off on me.

“You were lucky.” A new female said in a matter of fact tone which I completely understood. It was complete luck that I was thrown in here or that the golem was sadistic enough to toy with me enough to allow me to live this long. “Are you Okay?”

“No... no I’m not.” I did my best to sit up, but I yelped from the pain and lied back down. “I was thrown through so many trees. At least I unlock my magic.” I made a weak shield around my arm to demonstrate.

“I’m sorry.” A familiar voice said as I turned to it and found Faust. “I should’ve told youth keep running and that we were almost there, but I didn’t. Now... now your hurt because of me.” Despite the pain, I sat up and lifted her head to face me.

“I... it’s fine. I didn’t die again so I don’t care. That and it would’ve got me no matter what you did. I did give it one hell of a fight though.” I tried to sit up only for my bones to crack and shift under my weight. “Fuck!” I was in total pain before I looked at the woman who was off to the side.

She seemed to be the same age we are, but looked odd to me. Not like she had a birth defect, but similar yet different for some unknown reason. Or more like I know her, but she looks different and I can’t tell why. She had silver hair that seemed like a stark contrast to her age and seemed to be built more for speed and maneuverability than power. She still looked tough enough to bring absolute pain to any who dared to attack her. I don’t know why, but I continued to stare at her while scavenging the archives of my mind to try and remember where I know her from. Eventually, my curiosity got the best of me and I asked my most frustrating question I had to relieve myself from Its burden.

“Alright, I have to ask! Who the fuck are you?!” I yelled with frustration clearly evident in my tone and my facial expression.

Faust was not amused by my sudden out burst and seemed like she had a disappointing epiphany come to light. “Wow... you really don’t have any control of your anger at this age.” Wait... hold one... wait one fuckin’ minute... hold the phone... and many others I can’t think of at this time.

“Wait, am I gonna go through the emotional and physical changes I went through again?” This could be bad if the answer is what I think it is.

“Yes, why?” My eyes widened as I remembered the one defining trait that made the original younger me absolutely terrifying.

“I had horrible rage issues and years of therapy to quell the rage and even then; the only reason I became so tame was because of my depression.” She didn’t seem worried for some reason as I expected but a rather happy one.

“Then I’m glad I forgot to wipe your memory Because now you can control it.” Despite the pain I was currently in, I couldn’t help but glance everywhere but Faust. “Oh my gosh, you can’t.” I lowered my head in defeat as she hit nail on the head with that statement.

“That doesn’t matter. Let’s heal him before he dies... again.” The new girl said as she got close to me and began to use a healing spell on me followed by Faust who was doing as the girl said. “By the way, I’m Winged Spear, but from what Faust told me, you know me as Aranea Highwind.” My eyes widened as the identity of this girl was revealed to me as my favorite character in Final Fantasy 15.

“H-how?” I was at a loss for words as I silently gawked at my favorite character in that series. My mind was utterly fried from the news and I was still trying to recover from the mind fuck that was happening right now.

“Easy. I died after Noctis was sucked into the crystal. All those daemons overwhelm me and eventually killed me. She told that you came here by the same means... death. How?” I looked away because I went off with a whimper compared to show she died. Although I was feeling considerably better than I was when I was thrown into the cave.

“My god messed up when he was creating a disease to help the population crisis and released it prematurely on accident. It entered me and for three months I held it off, but I eventually died in front of my entire family. God cured my corpse and brought it to him where he apologized and handed me off to Faust where she asked me if I wanted a power before de-aging my body and ‘reincarnating’ me into this world as Nocturnal Shadow or Noctis for short.” When I finished my explanation I felt ashamed that I died in a less flamboyant way than Aranea did. I sighed seeing that I died so slowly compared to her which I guess I should be happy, but I felt so weak after hearing her’s.

“Damn.” I looked at her and she had a face of pity and sadness. “That must have been rough to go through.” She actually seemed sadden which surprised me because I never saw this side in the game.

“The last few days were the most painful.” I had to add that in because I just couldn’t leave out that detail... and I was having a moment of trying to see if I could push this character to be even cuter that she was now. I mean she is absolutely adorable. “It doesn’t matter because it already happened. There’s nothing I can do to change it.”

“Right... can’t change the past.” I nodded while Faust hesitated for a moment before agreeing. I didn’t care because if it happened, it happened and I’ll just have to roll with it. Aranea didn’t seem to convinced while the magic continued to heal all my broken bones.

I felt much better to the point I could actually move for the first time in this cave. I was amazed by this power they had that I could use, but I still needed much more to learn so I could use it. I needed to start with the shield so I could get a feel for the magic without destroying the environment around me... why is the ground shaking again.

The gollum was back, but the other two seemed not to noticed as they looked like they were lost within their own focus. I looked behind me and found the edge of the cave which terrified me since we had only one way out. Was the illusion going to hold while it stood there.

“Umm... guys?” I asked to get their attention with my tone seemingly wavering a little from the hulking behemoth in front of me.

“...”

No response. “Guys.” My tone was a little louder much to my growing fear.

“...”

Still no answer from them. What the hell! Are they that focused on this. I was gaining confidence thinking that the illusion was still up. It then raised its sword causing my eyes to widen as it’s blade glowed red as a smoldering flame consumed the blade. I didn’t know weather to call it terrifying of absolutely fucking amazing.

I got my answer as it swung its blade through the Illusion causing me to react immediately as I pushed them away. I was gonna dodge myself until the sword cut open my left shoulder and nearly took of that side of my body. I was extremely lucky that it’s momentum stopped at my hip or I would be saying goodbye to the left side of my body through screams. It didn’t matter if I lost it or not though... I was in an insurmountable amount of pain from that daemon’s attack.

“SHIIII-AAAAH!” I yelled as the curse died in my throat from attack and the flames coating the scimitar. I don’t know what happened, if it was Equus Magic or universal magic, but I was still able to move left arm despite it pretty much being chopped off. I looked to both my sides at the two were in shock on what fate they almost met. “What are you doing! Attack or ru-AAAAAAH!”

My anger began to rise as the continuous pain rapidly flared throughout my nervous system, but I was beyond screaming at this point. My pain was converting into anger as I was slowly losing myself to it and my vision faded to black.

(Third person)

The other two watched helplessly as their friend was struggling to move the scimitar before he stopped all together and flared his magic aura. It was a royal blue mixed with a white and seemed to violently flare at random intervals. They were surprised by this as if they never seen something like this happen ever; even if Faust has seen it in tournaments as a show of power to scare the opponent. What made it special was the fact that his aura was turning from that into a black and red aura that consumed his body as his anger visibly took control. His face contorted into a snarl while his eyes seemed to pierce right through the soul of the daemon. He now seemed that the blade practically cutting him in half was ineffective to the now enraged human... or was he now.

His body began to physically change from a normal everyday human body to a more demonic looking one. His ears became longer and pointed like an elf’s which seemed to move on there own as if hearing something others can’t. He bared his teeth to show that his canines were becoming more fang like and sharp enough to tear through skin. His nails became slightly longer and sharp enough to cut through armor as a dragon like tail practically shot out of his backside. His eyes were no longer there dull gray and changed into a scarlet red as his pupil became cat like. The whites of his eyes slowly turned black which crawled from the corner of his eyes to the irises before his right eye leaked magic like a water foist.

With a feet of amazing strength, the half daemon through the scimitar out of his body and up into the ceiling of the cave and getting the enormous sword stuck. The gollum pulled and tugged to no avail as it tried to get its main weapon free. The enraged human didn’t stop there as he threw his arms to the side, his left side drooping a little bit, before throwing his arms back and down until his arms were raised above his head and hand in the shape of a claw. For a moment it did nothing, but the question of ‘if he failed to do what he wanted’ was answered when the gollum was encased in ice before Aranea struck the back of his neck with her spear; rendering Noctis unconscious.

“Faust! Let’s get out of here before that gollum breaks out!” Aranea ordered as she took his left side while Faust ran over as fast as she could to the young boy and got his right. “About what I said about changing the past...” Aranea trailed off for Faust to continue knowing she was hiding something.

“We can, but this is the only time where the Harmony Arms locations are known. They don’t belong to anyone and they are known by all. However, it’s extremely dangerous to get them.” Faust answered while scanning the area with her magic for anymore daemons.

“Why this time then if those arms are so damn important?” Aranea prepared to attack at the sight of a daemon.

“I have a theory that me maybe he new Blade Master. I’ll tell you about this later, but we can’t tell Nocturnal.” Aranea glared at her which she responded with the infamous puppy eyes causing the spear wielder to give up her glare.

“Fine. I won’t tell a soul.” The foliage got denser and darker as they continued to hurry deeper into the woods. “Where are we going?” The deeper they went, the darker and more ominous the forest seemed to get.

“A place where not even daemons would ever set foot in... the Everfree Forest.” They walked into the darkness, not knowing how long they would be in there.

Chapter 3: Lost In The Woods part 2

The Everfree Forest is an unforgiving place that would make even the most experienced adventurers stay clear of the forest altogether. Most would make it to the entrance before turning away or the arrogant and the foolish would wander in thinking that they would be able to transverse the forest without any problems. They were quickly killed.

Those who wished to see the forest at least once would find it difficult due to the forest that separated the human villages to the forest with the higher kill count than most bandit groups. This Forest was known as the Forest Of Daemons where daemons of all kinds called it home. It was a place of danger and death, but those who survived said that there was a female daemon who was kind and would help them escape. No one knows why the daemons rarely venture away from the forest to terrorize the residents of Morning Bloom that rests at the edge of the forest. The people stayed there after the fall of Ponyville which began right after the previous generation of Elements of Harmony. The Everfree began to grow at a rapid rate which was when the Forest Of Daemons grew at astonishing rates to prevent the growth of the genocidal forest. Unfortunately, this unnatural phenomenon caused daemons to migrate to the forest as if they were trying to study it. Many people nicknamed it the Double-Edged Forest because it acted as a classic double edge sword. Helped stop the immediate danger and brought a longer, yet less dangerous, threat to the residents of Morning Bloom.

However, despite the obvious danger that both forests possessed; three children transversed the thick foliage of the Everfree to escape the daemons in the Forest Of Daemons. Only two were currently awake as the third was unconscious while being carried on the shoulders of the two. The left side of his body was barely hanging on by flesh and what little mussel remained from an earlier fight. Behind the trio was a long blood trail that went on for miles and eventually faded into the darkness that surrounded the children. Each step was accompanied by the crunch of a dead branch or leaving. To survive any encounter against a strong foe, they erected a strong magic field around themselves for protection; even if it was draining their mana faster than they could recover it.

Eventually, they found a cave that was large enough for a feral dragon to sleep in and not disturb anyone. The indentation in the floor showed signs of battle and/or erosion from the deposits dripping water into that one spot for who knows how long. A strong, foul smell assaulted their nostrils that didn’t seem to rouse the sleeping child, but most certainly caused the two conscious ones to cover their noses and gag from the horrendous aroma. The inside was dark and dank, with what the two hopped was moss hanging from the walls and not newly formed mold. The ground was somewhat damp and had an oddly alluring glow to it that reflected the light inside the newly discovered cave that led much deeper into the very earth itself. They didn’t care about the scenery of the cave despite the alluring call to observe everything in that general vicinity.

The two remaining, conscious humans got to work and etched or carved ruins into the dirt or stone to make a magic field surrounding the cave; not knowing that there was something inside with them. Unfortunately, writing the ruins to protect them took more magic then they expected, so neither one of them could heal the young boy who was currently bleeding to death. What made things worse was that the magical exhaustion prevented them from moving or they would risk an even more elongated, painful recovery on their end. Luckily they could still speak.

“Faust... what are we gonna do?” Aranea said with desperation as she feared that they couldn’t save him. She felt powerless in her position and refused to move because of her body was completely sore from the complete depletion of her mana.

“I... I don’t know?” She responded while seeing how helpless she was to save the one she saved not to long ago. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she saw the closest thing she had to a friend about to die in front of her.

Suddenly, the something was preparing to attack the downed human with hunger. Each step it took was deliberate and precise to the point you could tell it did it a bunch of times. A faint sound of rumbling caught the two magically exhausted humans' attention as the new creature slowly exited the shadows to show them what it was. Its mouth was watering from the sight of the nearly dead human that this new creature didn’t know was still alive. That came to it as the downed human coughing up blood and wake up.

“W-w-what h-happened?” The previous teen asked as the creature took a step back. It could eat anything dead, but the fact it was still alive surprised it since the would he had would, and should, be fatal to any normal human; Equestrian or Not. However, the Balancer soon passed out as the new creature was trying to decide what to do. It was still indecisive about it and it was still trying to thank about its decision.

This creature didn’t know what to do as it looked on with intrigue while slowly inching forward. It took a look at the grievous would on the human’s body that went from his left shoulder to his left hip. It placed its nose on the place where the wound was most closed; where the blade just stopped short of almost killing him. It began to glow and the wound slowly closed as the creature slowly pulled its nose to the shoulder with the only sign being a long scar where it once was. The creature placed its ear on the unconscious child’s chest to try and find a heartbeat.

It waited and waited to no avail as it seemed to have died during the healing process, much to the ire of its wishes. It drooped its head in sadness as it prepared to take it outside to bury it out of respect.

It paused, however, as the creature smelled a pungent odor filled the room which caused it to turn back to the child in fear since that smell was universal for animals. The smell of a daemon. It looked at the child while the two still seemed oblivious to the current actions of the creature. The previously thought dead human began to twitch as the red and black magical aura appeared once more and burst from the hip without restraint. His body began to change rapidly as his ears became elongated along with his canine teeth and nails, but the tail has yet to appear signifying his incomplete transformation. He shot up gasping for air as if he struggled to get a good intake of air.

He looked in all directions to try and find anyone or anything remotely similar to his previous surroundings. He reached behind his waist and pulled a sharp knife from behind him and glared at his surroundings before his eyes landed on the creature that saved him. It began to back away in fear at the half bread human while the human’s jaw dropped from the previous mythical creature in front of him.

He took a deep breath and begrudgingly sheathed his knife and held his hands up in a gesture to calm it. The two temporarily paralyzed girls watched on in amazement as the boy was unknowingly in his demonic form or a more controllable form. What shocked them was the wild animal that seemingly snuck past their defenses.

“I’m not gonna hurt you.” The creature stopped as the admittedly kind and gentle tone the boy had as it held genuine care for the creature that planned to eat him. It crept forward while remaining cautious from the previous teen since it was still emitting that pungent order; even if it was much less identifiable than it originally was. “See, I don’t mean any harm.” The boy slowly reached an arm out which the wild animal sniffed to find any smell of deceit. Finding none, it nuzzled the hand lovingly before it felt its body be picked up by the male.

Noctis cradled the creature like he would his past pets in his previous life. He loving scratched behind the ear of the creature with a content smile on his face while the creature just relaxed in his arms. The creature wasn’t struggling much to the shock of the onlookers as one was trying to figure out what this creature was and the other confused on how this extremely rare, and cynical, the creature was doing what it would normally never do.

The creature, despite being in pure bliss, scanned the child to see what he was and no matter what his race was, it would stay by his side. However, it secretly hoped for a Mage so it could become a Summon, or familiar for anyone who wasn’t familiar with the term. It blinked in confusion before scanning the child once more but receiving the same results as the last. It couldn’t believe what it was getting as feedback from the scan. There was daemon magic in the child, but there was also the magic of what it never thought to meet: a Balancer. It lifted a paw and touched the head of the boy and forced a mental pact with the child in a place where the seal could never be found.

“What the hell was that?” Noctis mumbled while trying to figure out what actually happened.

The other two were amazed as Aranea was fascinated with the actions of the boy as he seemed to hold a soft spot for animals. Faust was impressed by the fact that the creature created a pact with this kid who wasn't originally from that world. In other words, they were watching the impossible become possible in front of their eyes.

"This is adequate for us to communicate with one another." The fox said in a female childlike tone which surprised the group. Noctis was not surprised after what he experienced in this world; he wasn't surprised to find something like this.

"This is... AMAZING!!!" Aranea said as her age was catching up with her from the 'reincarnation' around a year and a half ago. She was finally acting her visual age after how long she was wandering the world around them.

Noctis stood up and took things slowly to make sure he could understand everything that was happening. He wasn't the brightest, he didn't need anyone to tell him that, but he was most certainly not an idiot... Sometimes. Despite all that happened in the past few hours, all he could remember was that he saw the golem about to kill them; however, there was another truth that none of them considered.

"Mom's going to kill me." He said as the two girls immediately tensed up. They too have parents in different towns of Equestria and them being gone for days on end would get them killed. Aranea had family in Trottingham and Faust had family in Canterlot, but neither of them was allowed to go to Noctis and absolutely not into the Everfree.

"We're all dead," Aranea said as she shivered while Noctis just pet the fluffy nine-tailed fox. The two looked at him in shock about how calm he was about this and not freaking out. Faust just had to, as people in Noctis's old-world would say, suck it up and deal with it.

"What are we doing here... In the Everfree I mean?" He said as he scratched the fox's ears making it purr. The fox had taken a liking to lie in his lap despite being about to double his height... Faust's and Aranea's exhaustion made it easy to sneak up on the kid.

"Umm... We're here to get a weapon known as a Harmony Arm, much like the Royal Arms your familiar within Final Fantasy fifteen." Faust said as Aranea understood how he could know so much about her world. Aranea chucked as she attempted to pet the fox which growled at her attempt.

"It's okay my little fox. She's a friend and rescued me from dying earlier today." She fox sighed internally and let the girl pet it. The fox didn't want to admit it, but it felt nice to be pet by the girl. She nuzzled deeper into Noctis as a response. "Actually what is your name?" He asked the fox.

"Chizuru Yuri." It said through the link as Noctis had to suppress an urge to say something.

(First Person — Noctis)

Yuri, depending on who you ask, it could mean two different things. If you ask a Call of Duty fan, then it's the name of a character in Modern Warfare 3, but if you ask an anime fan, then they'd say it's a term for gay female characters. The temptation to say it was strong and hard to combat, but I believe I was able to suppress it.

'You know I can hear that right?'

Damn it.

"Alright, let's set up for the night here and we'll continue tomorrow," I said noticing the dwindling light in the cave. "Now that I have a grasp on my magic, I should be able to use it now, so I'll go get us some food." Yuri perked up at the word 'food' as she began to drool at the mere thought of food. "I'll get a little extra for you foxy," I said as I managed to walk through the barrier, which surprised the two others and went on a hunting trip.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm terrified, but I'm currently the only one that can actually get us food. The other two are exhausted and Yuri would most likely eat anything she killed. So with that mindset, I threw my knife into the nearest tree and warped onto its branches. I began to leap from branch to branch, tree to tree to hopefully a source of food.

Maybe I should explain, Terrains have more capabilities than just brute force, our natural affinity for the earth itself makes us experts at navigation on land. Our bodies will also react before we do allow for things such as unconscious dodging or leaping from tree to tree without knowing how too possible. Unfortunately, this is limited to sight whereas everything else is just a feeling. A good example of this is Pinkie Pie's Pinkie Sense, but that's on a whole new level of awareness that almost made her a Draconequus. Yup, beings like Discord can be made if they have that type of awareness. Unfortunately, she was killed after her fight with Tirek.

I shook my head of that thought knowing that no one could be listening to my thoughts. That would be insane... Right?

Anyways, I did eventually find what I was looking for in the form a Manticore pack which was surprisingly spread apart; almost as if separated into different families. I was about to go try and find another pack before I fell directly in the center of them all. All turned to me as I wiped myself off of the dirt and grass. Thank God I didn't land in shit of that would be a very long way back.

I stopped caring when I was nudged by one of them; it almost caused me to fall again as I stumbled forward. I eventually caught my balance as I placed my hand on my knife. I faced the manticore and... It didn't attack? Is this Fluttershy Ex Machina stuff because I'm not complaining.

"I need food," I said as I stared at the one that nudged me. "I have a group of four: me, two others and a nine-tailed fox... I need food for us." They seemed to think before one came up and pawed at the ground, seemingly writing something.

The writing was a stretch since it was a stick figure holding something and a lion with wings next to each other. It then etched two arrows coming from both and pointing at the other. I was very confused by this before I got the vaguest idea of what they wanted. I put a vs there and it nodded before I facepalmed.

"Look, I just escaped death after nearly getting my entire left side lobbed off after facing a golem. Also... I'm one." I said as it looked at me practically saying that if I wanted food I'd have to fight. "Fine... I'll do my best!"

Without warning, it charged me at full speed and I was just able to dodge out the way before it slapped me with a paw. I hit the ground hard, but roles into a kneeling position before dodging out the way of another attack. Then it jumped above my, it's paws outstretched as it was just above me. I had nowhere to dodge out the way, but I remembered one of Noctis's abilities which allow him to phase through an enemy's attack.

I didn't have many options before I closed my eyes and imagined just sliding threw the attack. It didn't work as it landed directly on me and rolled to on my stomach. I huffed before shakily getting up on my feet after having almost five hundred pounds dropped on me. I was in excruciating pain, but I had to ignore it. It attacked again and if I wanted a chance to win, I needed to learn that phase dodge ability.

I closed my eyes and searched for the power I used when I used the warp ability earlier. I didn't have time as I lifted my arms to block the manticore's strike; however, it sent me through the air, hitting the ground hard before bouncing off it and into a thick tree. My body cracked the outside of the tree and causing it to collapse on me almost pinning me. The beast attacked once again as it's paw was a yard away from my face, it's maw emitting a mighty roar and it's teeth bared.

At that moment, my Terrain instincts acted as my body felt weightless as I went through the attack and the tree. An image filled my head of a balloon just passing through a ceiling before my feet touched the ground. That image of weightlessness was all I needed to activate it as my pure instincts forced the thought to the forefront of my mind. It was Deus Ex Machina as hell, but I like to live.

I didn't want to kill it, but I had to fight. I needed to delve deeper into that magic and find that Terrain strength I desperately needed. I pushed the tree, trying to make the end of it snap completely off the trunk and role it on the manticore. It moved completely over and eventually snapped off causing it to fall on... Air. It was alright out the way and charging. I phased through the attack and punched it and it did absolutely fucking nothing.

"Shit," I said simply before it swatted me away again, but I pulled out my knife and chucked it at a random tree. I wrapped it to it before falling back to the ground and sheathing it. I don't know the biology of a manticore so I can't determinate where it's weak points are unlike other bipedal creatures like the golem.

I held up the knife in front of me with a fist, both of the hand's shaking, and me being totally uncertain that I'd make it out of this fight alive. I don't have any strength to fight it, I don't have proper weapons to fight it, and I know none of its weaknesses to win. I'm at a serious disadvantage now that I think of it. I have no way to win unless I... Wear it down.

I couldn't help but smile as my hands continued to shake. I charged it and swiped at it with my knife, but it dodges and hits me with its tail. I slid across the clearing and made a small ditch before rolling backward and phasing through its attack. I jumped over its tail and threw my knife at it and it stick inside it; causing it to roar in pain began I warped to it and cut open it's back. I leaped off as its tail just barely missed me and stick its self with its tail.

I landed as it huffed like I was as we stared at each other. Its energy will be distributed to accommodate it's wound making it easier to attack and defend against a stronger enemy. I stand a chance against it before I ran at it before throwing the knife into the air and warped to it before throwing the knife back into the same spot. It roared in even more pain before I came down and kicked the knife deeper into it. It only let out a whimper as it fell to the ground; its wounds taking most – if not all – of his energy to even process the pain now. I stood on its back and removed the knife before walking to its head.

"A deal's a deal." It groaned before letting out a low roar as a large animal I was unfamiliar with. Many were sad, but I took what I needed and that was just a leg of it before I covered with my shirt.

I jumped from tree to tree again as I begin to properly process the fight as I warped so it would be faster. I landed and walked back through the barrier as the three girls looked at me with a smile. I smiled back and lowered the leg on the floor and showed them.

"You have no idea what pain I went through to get this," I said before Aranea cut up the meat and began to cook it.

"What did you do?" Faust said as Yuri crawled on my lap and lied down to allow me to get her. I scratched her ear as I smiled.

"Fought and won against a manticore alpha." Their jaws dropped so far that I thought that they would be more impressed, but I guess this works too.

"You did what?!" Aranea, Faust, and Yuri yelled as I laughed.

"I really hope we get this done sooner, but I guess a little bit of camping can't hurt," I said as I lied down to sleep off the wounds the manticore gave me.